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SAG has announced for February 8th a “Special National Board Conference Meeting” 
where I’m told the SAG National Majority will make the same motions that are in the January 26th written assent and attempt to maneuver around any possible temporary restraining order obtained in court by Membership First’s four members. The SAG National Majority is that coalition between most of the NY Division, the Reginal Division Branches, and the Hollywood Division minority Unite For Strength. The four MF’ers seeking the TRO Thursday are Alan Rosenberg, Anne-Marie Johnson, Diane Ladd and Kent McCord. The TRO is targeted at SAG itself and the 41 SAG National Board members who signed the written assent that fired National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Doug Allen, split his job between new NED David White and new chief negotiator John McGuire, and replaced the SAG negotiating committee with a reconfigured task force to bargain with the AMPTP. So let me see: Membership First used parliamentary rules against the SAG National Majority. Then the SAG National Majority used the “written assent” legal maneuver against Membership First. Then Membership First goes to L.A. Superior Court for a TRO against that written assent. And now the SAG National Majority moves to circumvent any TRO. And on, and on…
Interim NED David White on Tuesday night called for the special video conference meeting of the National Board for this coming Sunday from 9AM to 2PM (PST) in the James Cagney Room in Hollywood and the Leon Janney Board Room in New York:
“No call-ins will be permitted at this meeting. All members will participate in Los Angeles or New York. Information for designating alternates and instructions for RBD members to make changes to their travel arrangements will be forwarded tomorrow morning. As a reminder, please note that since this meeting will be held by video conference, a National Director may be replaced by any Alternate National Director for only one continuous period of time during any one day. This meeting shall be considered a separate meeting from the Joint Board meeting scheduled for Saturday, February 7th. Also, in accordance with the replacement policy approved at the National Board meeting in April 2004, requests for alternates must be completed and confirmed no later than 5 p.m. on the last business day prior to the commencement of that meeting. This means that requests must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 6th. (IMPORTANT NOTE: INSTRUCTIONS FOR DESIGNATING ALTERNATES FOR THIS MEETING WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOUR ATTENTION TOMORROW MORNING.)
Meanwhile, Scott Wilson and David Clennon are in this “SAG Coup” protest video from the group KeepSAGRelevant opposing the SAG National Majority:
- Judge Nixes TRO On Technicality But MF Will Refile For Thursday Hearing
- SAG vs SAG: Who’s Suing Whom Today
- AMPTP/SAG Talks Tomorrow Postponed: SAG Goes To Court Tuesday Over Rosenberg And Johnson Try For Injunction To Overturn Written Assent
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Regarding the video…
Dave Clennon lost me right at the end when he said he wouldn’t work under the new proposed contract that the task force negotiates with the AMPTP (eventhough he doesn’t know what the improvements will be yet). However, that was not the moment he lost me. He lost me when instead of saying he would refuse to work, he instead states he would be willing to continue to work under the old contract!!! He cleary doesn’t believe in his own fight – because the current contract lacks the move over residuals he says are so vital – but he would be willing to work under those terms.
Sorry Dave, but if you truly believe in the argument you are making – Then you need to come out firm and say YOU WILL NOT WORK UNDER ANY CONTRACT THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE BENEFITS YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR!!!
It’s so reassuring to me, as one who has been arguing for a fair deal for actors, to see two of the best actors in the business, Scott Wilson and Dave Clennon, standing up, explaining in detail why this is such an outrage, and calling out the high profile actors by name, and publicly telling them they are selling out the next generation of actors for the first time in the history of the guild.
All those stars will suffer the contempt of their fellow actors for the rest of their careers, and rightfully so, given their aid and comfort to the AMPTP and UFS/NY/RBD.
This is the standing ground – right here, right now. You can’t lay it out any more clearly than these two brave spokesman have done.
What is happening at SAG is shameful. The state judge, on Thursday, has the fate of the guild in his or her hands. If the ruling is against the plaintiffs: Rosenberg, Johnson, McCord and Ladd, and this farce of a coup is allowed to stand, the Screen Actors Guild will capitulate to the biggest power grab by the producers in the history of the guild, and be on the road to extinction through merger with AFTRA.
I think, despite the frustrations, the rage, the bitterness, the interminable delays that have been caused by the active insurgency of UFS/NY/RBD to gut support for a Strike Authorization Vote, which is, and has always been the only possible way to either force the producers to give us a fair deal, or force us to strike – either option, has been a betrayal of the Guild, its membership, and all the men and women who fought and sacrificed to achieve and keep and improve upon the benefits we enjoy today.
It dishonors them, it dishonors us, and they must be stopped.
Every person in the entertainment industry knows that Membership First – the faction that includes the Gang of Four, Doug Allen, and all of their supporters on this comment board – has been in complete control of the SAG negotiating process since before it even began. They could have at ANY TIME sent out a contract or a strike authorization referendum to the members and THEY CHOSE NOT TO. Now it is time for the nonsense to stop and for the miscreants to go home and leave the workings of the guild to the adult faction.
stop everything!
newman
Dave Clennon lost me right at the end when he said he wouldn’t work under the new proposed contract that the task force negotiates with the AMPTP (eventhough he doesn’t know what the improvements will be yet).
Presumably none, since that’s kind of the point here.
The new PTB don’t think any significant concessions can be achieved, they just want to..well, nobody really seems to know. They can’t say that “we just want to go back to work” since they’ve been working all this time.
I guess they just want this to be over with, would rather get back to acting than have this fight with the studios right now. My thing is, if they don’t want that fight, then why don’t they just mind their own business? These people say they detest the politics of it, yet aren’t merely knee-deep in it, they run the political sideshow now.
They fight tooth and nail to be as deep in this as they could possibly be.
I do agree that this whole thing has been bungled. SAG should have never waited this long to get the strike auth vote. It was clear from back in January of last year that SAG was never going to get a concession without a strike just like the WGA didn’t so there was nothing to gain from not going for the guns early, back when there might have been enough support to get the votes and before the entire depth of our economic problems were truly known.
Even if the strike would have failed, at least the fight would be about something of substance like that instead of all this meta-bullshit.
If WGA pulled the trigger too soon (I don’t think that they did personally, since it worked and the support was overwhelming) then SAG pulled it way, way too late.
to “Dave is all talk no substance”: Dave and Scott put there name where their mouth is. Who the fuck are you. You’re not even an actor, just some moron with the power of a key board. These guys are real actors. Look at them and see what it means to be a real actor. To consistantly make a living your whole life, not by becoming a huge star with a 10-20 million dollar payday but by consistantly doing good work. Auditioning for nearly every job and getting the part. Lost you? Good, get lost-
A “coup” by the majority, using provisions in the constitution.
Methinks they don’t really know what the word means.
Matt,
Do you REALLY think if the judge does grant the TRO request that this will be the END?? It won’t end it. This infighting will NEVER end! Here’s one way it plays:
1) TRO granted
2) National Board meets and forces the vote – Doug Allen out, Task Force in
3) MF fights any attempt at ratifying a contract no matter what it contains
4) Contract defeated
5) No possible Strike Authorization because MF will work against it because they aren’t in the drivers seat
6) Limbo
Or maybe
1) TRO Denied
2) MF fights any attempt at ratifying a contract no matter what it contains
3) Contract defeated
4) No possible Strike Authorization because MF will work against it because they aren’t in the drivers seat
5) Limbo
Or maybe
1) TRO granted
2) National Majority unable to pass changes from the Majority Assent leaving MF in charge of negotiations
3) MF attempts to get a SAV but is fought by national majority
4) SAV defeated
5) Limbo
OR possibly
1) TRO granted
2) National Majority unable to pass changes from the Majority Assent leaving MF in charge of negotiations
3) MF allows a vote on the contract but is fought by National Majority
4) Contract is not ratified
5) MF then attempts a SAV that is fought by National Majority
6) SAV defeated
7) Limbo
Or here’s a rosy one:
1) TRO granted
2) National Majority unable to pass changes from the Majority Assent leaving MF in charge of negotiations
3) MF allows a vote on the contract
4) Contract IS ratified
5) We get stuck with the very contract you are fighting against.
I could go on and on but there is absolutely NO SCENARIO that I can think of where we can really win because we have no clout because we are fighting each other rather than the AMPTP!.
You may think there is a chance of a SAV getting passed, but I GUARANTEE there isn’t a chance in hell of getting 75% of the membership on board no matter WHO IS AT THE HELM.
And any contract up for ratification will have equal chances of passing vs. failing by a slim margin. It’s a crap shoot.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO GET EVERYONE BEHIND SOMETHING!!!!
The vid is a little long, but very compelling and cogent. And it seriously made me despise Damon, Clooney, Field and those other clowns. I encourage everyone to give it a look.
Dave Clennon is absolutely right about what will happen next. The Companies will offer the same turd they’ve been serving up, perhaps with a little powdered sugar, as Dave amusingly described it.
And I think SAG members will probably accept it.
But if that happens, don’t despair, actors: Just get your shit together for the next negotiation. Do what you should have done three years ago: (1) Fix the AFTRA thing; (2) Organize your membership.
The reason the “stars” could get over on your leadership and arrange the so-called “coup” is that there was no broad-based support for the leadership among rank-and-file members. You MUST create a unified membership that no douchebag “star” can break. The Writers Guild did it (although they are a much smaller membership), and you can do it, too.
So fix these two things, and see you in a couple of years at the negotiating table. The writers will be right there by your side.
The chance of the judge granting a TRO on Thursday is absolutely nil. Even if there were a chance of success on the merits, which is highly unlikely, the judge is going to stay that he is not going to grant a TRO in a matter of this magnitude on ex parte notice (and allow Membership First to bring a motion on regular notice)
Very well said, and I agree, Matt Mulhern.
The video: One minute the fault is entirely that of the NY board or the regional boards. Scott and Dave Clennon say they don’t represent the Hollywood actors wishes. The next minute they are attacking high profile stars who are very much connected with Hollywood. So here you have two actors who fiercely believe in what they are saying but to make their point, they rely on very divisive statements, hate-mongering and fear tactics. This is what so many people are tired of and what gave rise to changes on the board to begin with. The same things that they accuse the current majority of are the very things they themselves have been doing for months. Dave Clennon loves to call people who disagree with him “termites”, yet who keeps eating away at the foundations of this guild day after day after day with this kind of propoanda and hate-filled rhetoric? This is how you engender support, Dave? I don’t think anyone is advocating that we have to give up residuals or not be treated fairly. What many of object to is the WAY this is being done. And this video is just further proof of the extent to which some individuals are willing to go..no matter how destructive it may be to the very thing they claim to want to save.
Scott and Dave are heroes. Not the “Heroes” at NBC.com, but he kind of hero that is selflessly working to protect the health care for children of union members.
To “dave is all talk and no substance”…
I don’t want to put words in Dave Clennon’s mouth but I think he’d rather work under the old deal because it has not capitulated on some very important points.
Mr. Clennon might think move over rights with chump change residuals pale in comparison to –
Union coverage for every actor who speaks a line on any AMPTP set,Some form of residuals for new Media(even if they ramp up over time, or by budget), Clip consent with no ability to opt out, no forced product integration,retaining force majeure, and other issues.
I know the issues I listed are more important to me than the lousy rate that has been negotiated for move over.
I’m not saying having a move over agreement isn’t a good thing, I’m saying it’s not the most important thing, and it’s not enough to give up all the other stuff.
I think Mr. Clennon might agree with me.
The TRO needs to be issued against the petulant over-paid two-year-olds who seem fard more interested in scoring points and being right than getting the Actors they claim to represent and care so deeply about a good – and long overdue – deal.
Ya think you’re going to received contributions to health and pension DURING a strike? The rest of sure as hell won’t either. Crappy argument.
I think the rest of us non-sag people who work in the film and tv industries should file a class action suit against SAG, Alan Rosenberg, Doug Allen and the rest of them for OUR lost wages, for our lost houses, for OUR mental strife and suffering ALL caused by work slow-down because they won’t sign a god damn deal.
They keep saying they’ll be losing money with this deal. What about all the friggin’ money they’re losing because of the slow down. What about all the money we’re losing because of the slowdown. What about ALL THE MONEY WE WOULD ALL LOSE NOT WORKING DURING A STRIKE!
Sign a damn deal and get this town back to work. Enough is ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed with Scott and Dave. Completely. I can live, and live with myself, under this “slow death” virtual lockout until something gives. And part of the equation right now of what’s “giving” is that the 2009 and 2010 film rosters are revealing themselves as garbage that will cause heads to roll at studios once the “ghost release rosters” decimate box office returns. I couldn’t live with myself signing anything resembling the current POS on the table (which UFS doesn’t want us to vote on, period).
Voting up that POS offer would be like taking a bullet to cure a lingering cold.
Nikki
At what time was this Special Meeting called & who called it?
Reason I ask is because the SAG Constitution would have to be followed for this meeting to count as the exact injunctive relief the plaintiffs are seeking.
Your reporting has been head & shoulders above the rest. Keep up the good work.
These cry babies make me sick. The entitlement is absolutely stunning.
Why are people talking about a contract instead voting on a contract????
BLAH… BLAH …. BLAH ….
Let them get a better deal and then we vote. If the deal still sucks it does not pass. I am so tired of the posturing. It’s so boring !!!!
I am so sick of people sandbagging our Union! The whole point of it is to stick together so we can all benefit, not undermine our standings. The deal offered is BAD.
Let the people who were elected to their job, and then feel free to start infighting again for the next election.
I also resent celebs who haven’t worked for scale in since the 80′s telling working actors that this is a fair deal.
They speak the Truth.
Sterling says “I couldn’t live with myself signing anything resembling the current POS on the table (which UFS doesn’t want us to vote on, period).”
I assume you have been reading this board for awhile now. The offer has been on the table and UNCHANGED for months and months. MF has NOT ALLOWED A VOTE on it. Nor has MF allowed a STRIKE AUHTORIZATION VOTE.
Then Doug Allen suddenly changed his mind and now it’s UFS who doesn’t want us to vote. Okay, I get it.
Can we just stop pointing fingers? Can’t we work toward a COMMON GOAL?
Things can be spun in any direction, but unless we get together as SAG USA and ALL OUR MEMBERS CAN BE UNITED, we will be slowly strangled to death.
Dave Clennon has valid points about New Media, and this comes from what happened with DVDs. But if I remember correctly DGA and WGA have a “favored nation” clause in their contracts, if SAG gets a better deal on New Media, then those increases are extended to the other 2 unions. It’s most likely the reason the AMPTP won’t give in on New Media. Dave’s remarks about a “sugar coated” contract offer by the new neg team, isn’t valid…for whatever reason the AMPTP and Alan & Allen went head first into a brick wall.
I don’t understand why you don’t want to give this new team a chance to come up with a better contract for SAG members. If the membership hates it, they will vote it down. This seems to be a war between MF & U4S, and the only victims are the membership. Scott and Dave claim that this is being railroaded by NY people and it’s Hollywoods fight; is wrong. Actors live in and outside of Hollywood, fly in, fly out. It’s the business (for now) that’s here, all else is fluid. Example: Matt lives in NY, but will fly to LA for a job, then go back to NY…maybe for some theatre work.
Dave’s comments about Amy Brenneman are wrong, he gives her too much power, he said because of her… 5 U4S seats were won on the board. She ran on what she believed was best for SAG and the membership voted for the new board members. The membership voted.
Actors come in and audition for parts on the 2 shows that I work on, they are all so earnest and treated with respect by everyone, but there is a “dear in the headlight” look in their eyes.. your infighting is the reason…if your board members on both sides don’t get their act together, you will destroy your union.
“Look! Powdered sugar. Don’t smell it, vote for it.”
ROTFLMFAO!!!!
Who says actors can’t write, that was brilliant!